Razor stropper



Feb. 2o, 1934. Q Q BROOKS 1,948,165

RAZOR STROPPER Filed Oct. 4, 1952 Fly. .2.

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to razor stroppers.

The present invention contemplates a razor stropper of the type employing a reciprocatory strap against which the blade edge is brought for the purpose of sharpening the same. Any form of reciprocatory strap may be employed but the preferred form comprises a simple strap folded onitself and adapted to be pulled back y and forth to effect the stropping of the blade.

The present invention contemplates a stropper for razor blades suitable for use with either double edged blades or single edged blades and wherein stropping action is obtained with the u opposite faces of the cutting edge occupying an oblique angle to the direction of motion of the strap. One face of the cutting edge is at an oblique angle and the other face is at a similar oblique angle but on the opposite side so that 2 at all times the strap moves in a diagonal line relative to the edge of the blade. The present invention also contemplates a razor strop wherein the blade is removably supported in a blade carrier adapted to be oscillated on its longitudinal axis so as to present the faces of the blade Ato the strop for stropping action, and this blade carrier is supported on a movable sub-frame arranged so as to be moved back and forth about a transverse axis to cause the blade to assume angular positions relative to the direction of the motion of the strap. Where the strap is arranged to be folded so as to have two closely spaced parallel portions adapted to be pulled back and forth, the present invention contemplates that the swinging operation of the sub-frame and the turning of the blade carrier on its axis will be accomplished by means actuated from the strap and taking effect as soon as there is a reverse motion of the strap to move the edge of the blade away from the strap so as to insure that the blade will not cut the strap on such reverse movement.

According to the preferred embodiment, these operations are carried out by friction rolls adapted to be turned by the strap and these rolls act not only to swing the sub-frame on its axis but are connected to the blade carrier, through suitable gearing, so as to turn it to the position to present the edges of the blade for wiping action by the strap. This gearing arrangement also insures that the blade shall press against the strap so long as the strap is being pulled -in the direction which shifted the blade to the position assumed.

Other and further objects will appear as th description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, two of the many embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In the drawing:

Figs. l and 2 are end elevational views of the razor stropper; Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts when the strap is being pulled in one direction, and Fig. 2 illustrating the position of the parts when the strap is being pulled in the other direction, these directions being indicated by arrows;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrows 3 of Fig. 1, with parts in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;A v

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with movable parts in mid-portion;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modification. j

In the form of construction shown in the drawing, the razor stropper employs two frame plates 10 and 11 connected together by two bridging members l2 and 13. These parts may be made of a single stamping folded to shape, or may be made out of separate parts suitably secured together.

The frame carries a revolvable guide roller 14, near the rear, and is provided with a number of guides indicated at 15. These guides, as well as the guide roller, may be made of hard wood, or other suitable material, and may be mounted on metal pins, as indicated. The guides l5 are preferably arranged in pairs, as will be apparent from the drawing, and are spaced equal distances apart so that the strap S will have parallel portions, as appears in the drawing. The stropper may be supported by a yoke 16 and eye 17, asindicated.

The side members 10 and 11 of the frame are provided with elongated apertures indicated at 18 and 19 -to receive a movable sub-frame 20. This frame is pivoted to the bridging members 12 and 13 as indicated at 21 and 22.

The sub-frame 20 is adapted to swing back and forth in the space provided by the elongated openings 18 and 19. One end wall 23 of the subframe 20 is provided with an elongated slot 24 to receive the blade B, here shown as a double edged blade. The slot 24 is enlarged as indicated at 25 to afford one bearing for a blade carrier C, While the other end is pivotally mounted in the The frame members 23 and 27 also carry shafts 29 and 30, each of which have small gears 31 and 32, in mesh with the internal gear 28. The shafts 29 and 30 also carry rollers 33 and 34 which bear on the outer surface of the strap as will be clear from Figs. 4 and 5.

When one desires to sharpen a blade, it is only necessary to put the blade in the holder and pull alternately on the ends of the strap to execute a few back and forth strokes of the strap. When the lower part of the strap is being pulled, as indicated in Fig. 1, the roller 34 will bear against one portion of the strap while the roller 33 will bear against the other portion of the strap. These two portions of the strap are traveling in opposite directions and the rollers 33 and 34 are on opposite sides of the axis 21--22. Hence there is a tendency to swing the movable frame to the full line position of Figs. 1, 3, and 6.

On reverse movement of the strap, the action on the rollers 33 and 34 is reversed and the movable frame shifts to the full line position of Fig. 2, from the dotted line position of Fig. 3. This back and forth movement on the axis 2l and 22 is accomplished each time one shifts the direction of pull on the strap.

Owing to the gear drive between the shafts 29 and 30 and the blade carrier, the rotation of the rollers 33 and 34 also effects a quick shift of the blade carrier about its longitudinal axis so that the blade is shifted from a position wherein the diagonally opposite faces of the two cutting edges are engageable with the strap to the other position for stropping the remaining edges. This shifting of the blade away from the strap takes place as soon as the reverse movement is initiated and prevents dragging the strap against the sharp edge of the blade.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the reversal of the motion of the strap causes the blade to be placed first in one angular position and then in another angular position relative to the motion of the strap so that at all times there is a diagonal stropping action to be had.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the rollers for driving the gears are inside the strap. One roller is indicated at 34'. These rollers operate gear segments 31' and 32 which mesh with gear teeth carried in a blank 28.

It is of course, apparent that the stropper may be constructed so as to accommodate the single edge blades as well as the double edged blades, and that it may employ other forms of reciprocatory strap to effect the shifting of the blade about both axes.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way withrespect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a razor stropper a strap movable back and forth through a predetermined path, a blade carrier mounted for movement about two axes at right angles to one another and interposed between two substantially parallel portions of the strap and adapted to hold a blade, and strap-operated means for actuating the blade carrier about said two axes so that the opposite sides of the cutting edge of the blade in the blade carrier are presented alternately to the faces of the strap with the edge at oblique angles of alternately opposite sign to the direction of motion of the strap.

2. A razor stropper as claimed in claim l, wherein the strap operated means includes a pair of friction rollers and gears operated there by for turning the blade carrier in a direction to press the side of the cutting edge against the face of the strap.

3. A razor stropper as claimed in claim l, wherein the strap operated means includes means for turning the blade carrier in a direction to press the side of the cutting edge against the face of the strap only so long as the strap moves away from said edge, so that upon reverse movement of the strap, this pressure is released.

4. A razor stropper having a reciprocatory blade sharpening strap having portions on opposite sides of a median plane, a blade carrier mounted to swing back and forth about an axis in said median plane and for the bodily shifting of said axis in the said plane about an axis perpendicular to said plane, and strap operated means for effecting such movement.

5. A razor stropper having a reciprocatory blade sharpening strap having portions on opposite sides of a median plane, a blade carrier mounted to swing back and forth. about an axis in said median plane and for the bodily shifting of said axis in the said plane about an axis perpendicular to said plane, and friction rollers engageable with the strap and acting on the blade carrier to shift it about both axes.

6. A razor stropper having a blade carrier adapted to carry a razor blade, a movable frame in which the blade carrier is pivoted for oscillation about an axis lengthwise of the blade carrier, an outer frame to which the movable frame is pivoted for oscillation about a transverse axis, a strap movable back and forth in the outer frame, means for oscillating the blade carrier on its axis in response to the shifting of the movable frame, and means for shifting the movable frame back and forth according to the movement of the strap.

'7. A razor stropper having a blade carrier adapted to carry a razor blade, a movable frame in which the blade carrier is pivoted for oscillation about an axis lengthwise of the blade carrier, an outer frame to which the movable frame is pivoted for oscillation about a transverse axis, a strap movable back and forth in the outer frame, gear means for oscillating the blade carrier on its axis in response to the shifting of the movable frame, and a friction drag for shifting the movable frame back and forth according to the movement of the strap.

8. In a razor stropper, a main frame, a rear guide roller carried by the frame, a strap doubled on itself and passed about the guide roller, guides for holding the portions of the strap to the front of the guide roller in substantially parallel spaced relationship as thestrap is pulled back and forth, a movable frame pivoted to the main frame for movement about an axis perpendicular with the plane of said parallel portions of the strap, members carried by the movable frame and bearing on the strap for shifting the movable frame in accordance with the directions of motion of the strap, and a blade carrier carried by the movable frame.

9. In a razor stropper, a main frame, a rear guide roller carried by the frame, a strap doubled on itself and passed about the guide roller, guides for holding the portions of the strap to the front of the guide roller in substantially parallel spaced relationship as the strap is pulled back and forth, a movable frame pivoted to the main frame for movement about an axis'perpendicular with the plane of said parallel portions of the strap, friction rollers carried by the movable frame and bearing' on the strap for shifting the movable frame in accordance with the direction of motion of the strap, and a blade carrier movably carried by the movable frame and shiftable by the friction rollers.

10. A razor stropper comprising a main frame, a strap doubled on itself and adapted to be pulled back and forth, a movable frame pivoted to the main frame to swing about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the strap, a blade carrier extending between the said portions of the strap, and pivotally secured to the movable frame to swing about an axis parallel with the plane of the strap, and means for swinging the movable frame back and forth and for swinging the blade carrier back and forth so that the opposite sides of a cutting edge of the blade are brought alternately against the strap with the edge at angles to the direction of motion of the strap.

11. A razor stropper comprising a main frame, side members, top and bottom bridging members securing the side members together, a rear guide roll and top and bottom guides carried between the side members, a strap extending between the guides and about the guide roll and adapted to be pulled back and forth, the guides being spaced so that portions of the strap between them are substantially7 parallel, a movable frame pivoted in the top and bottom bridging members to swing about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the strap, a blade carrier extending between the said portions of the strap, and pivotally secured to the movable frame to swing about an axis parallel with the plane of the strap, and means for swinging the movable frame back and forth and for swinging the blade carrier back and forth so that the opposite sides of a cutting edge of the blade are brought alternately against the strap with the edge at angles to the direction of motion of the strap.

12. In a razor stropper, a main frame having side members and interconnecting bridging members, the side members having elongated apertures, a sub-frame pivotally carried between the bridging members and having end members movable back and forth in the apertures of the side members of the main frame, a blade carrier pivotally mounted in the end members of the sub-frame, a gear secured to one end of the blade carrier, shafts carried by the sub-frame and carrying gears in mesh with the first gear, friction rollers carried by the shaft, a reciprocatory strap, guides in the main frame for guiding the strap in a predetermined path, the strap bearing on the friction rollers and on reversal of movement acting on the rollers to shift the sub-frame on its pivot and to turn the blade carrier on its pivot.

13. A razor stropper as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the gear on the blade carrier is an internal gear having toothed segments.

14. A razor stropper as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the friction rollers extend from the opposite edges of the opposed portions of the strap to substantially the center line of the strap.

15. A razor stropper for double edged blades having a strap with substantially parallel portions movable back and forth over a iixed path, a blade carrier mounted for movement about two axes, one parallel with the strap portions and the other transverse of the strap portions, and adapted to carry a blade between said portions of the strap, and means responsive to strap movement for shifting the carrier on said axes and for placing the diagonally opposite faces of the cutting edges against the strap when moving away from said edges and for shifting the blade carrier and blade on the transverse axis so that the blade edges are at alternately opposite angles to the direction of motion of the strap, whereby simultaneous stropping of both cutting edges along diagonal lines is obtained.

16. The combination with a substantially stationary frame and a reciprocatory strap carried thereby, of a blade carrierfor a blade to be stropped and a pivotally carried sub-frame in which the blade carrier is pivotally mounted, and strap actuated means carried by the subframe and operatively connected to the blade carrier for shifting the carrier to alternately present the opposite faces of a cutting edge of the blade to the strap for stropping thereby and for shifting the sub-frame on its pivotal support so that the axis of the blade carrier is inclined in one direction and then in the other direction relative to the direction of motion of the strap whereby diagonal stropping is obtained.

OLIVER C. BROOKS, 

